Where do you buy Tartan material?

[seasaidhlinne]

SO I was on a couple of websites and I saw the price of kilts and in less a whole bunch of people want to donate a whole bunch of money "Buy Jessie a kilted skirt fund" to the sewing machine I shall go(Guess I should learn how to sew). But where do you buy the material without spending a boat load, I have student loans to pay off so I'm limited in funds. So like most of stuff in my life I am going to get creative.
Maybe my pleats won't be perfect but it will be a valiant first effort.

[MacLowlife]

You can start with that Internet Auction Site. Your local fabric store might surprise you. Many Highland Outfitters will sell you yard goods, including several X Marks sponsors. Poke around and see. Probably you will need to decide what kind of fiber you want ( wool, poly viscose, acrylic) what weight, and, of course, which tartan to start with. I expect you may find that you won't save a lot of money, but you will get a better fit and better construction if you do it yourself.

[unixken]

There are numerous sources for the fabric, but since you don't say what your pricing threshold is, or what weight of fabric you are interested in, I have to warn... good wool isn't necessarily cheap, no matter from whom you source it. And if you buy it from an overseas producer, expect import duties on top of cost plus shipping. Since you are in Canada, you might start by PM'ing Steve, to see what prices Freedom Kilts might be able to offer.

[Father Bill]

If you're going to learn how to do it yourself, first buy Barb Tewkesbury's book "The Art of Kiltmaking" here: http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/books.html From what the experts here say about it, it will save you a lot of heartbreak and lost cash.

[unixken]

If you're going to learn how to do it yourself, first buy Barb Tewkesbury's book "The Art of Kiltmaking" here: http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/books.html From what the experts here say about it, it will save you a lot of heartbreak and lost cash.

You might also find the instructions for making an X-Kilt worth looking at...
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ownload-20085/

[MacLowlife]

So much depends on how much fabric you want- and how particular you are. I do not know about import duties, but here are a handful of remnants in Black Stewart, possibly available for under $20:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-PENDLETO...item257c7108dc

or Black watch from the same source, for just a little more:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-PENDLETO...item257c4808df

and here is some Anderson that might work...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scotland-Woo...item5aefc3b566

[David Thorpe]

If you're going to learn how to do it yourself, first buy Barb Tewkesbury's book "The Art of Kiltmaking" here: http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/books.html From what the experts here say about it, it will save you a lot of heartbreak and lost cash.

Best advice so far. And be aware that traditional kilts are sewn by hand, not by machine.

[TheOfficialBren]

Here is a list (with ratings) of non-ebay auctions on the interwebs.

http://online-auction-sites.toptenreviews.com/

[seasaidhlinne]

Fraser Tartan will be my choice only I can't figure the heck out which fraser pattern/tartan is right. I didn't know how many branches their were in till I started doing family research. I belong to the clan Fraser that uses the motto "All our faith is in god".

oh dear. I'm not sure I can handle heart break. I can barely sew as it is. I just thought it might save me a bit. Never thought how painful it would be to make.

So where does one look for kilts/kilted skirts/tartan all under a 200 dollar price range.
I found stuff I loved but def. don't have 400 plus to put into such a thing.

[Lorna]

Burnett and Struth has 16 oz. Fraser Modern tartan for sale for $50 per metre which is quite reasonable. I bought a length of fabric (Campbell Ancient Old) from them in December and was very pleased with it. It sewed up beautifully.

Here is the link: http://www.burnetts-struth.com/sale-tartans/